Miller Christmas 2008

We had a Great Christmas this year!  It was full of the stuff that counts...Family!  I was worried earlier this year, when we started our debt reduction program, that Christmas would be bleak.  I was wrong.  We set a budget and stuck to it (with $20 left over).  I am amazed at how well our Christmas turned out.  Santa is a bargain shopper it turns out...who knew?

We started out Christmas morning at our house, it was so fun.  Jake ran down the stairs saying "hold on Walkin, Talking Lightening McQueen, I'm coming ..." .  It was so cute, he just knew that Santa brought it for him, luckily he did : )  I was also very happy to have Victoria back home, it wouldn't have been the same without her.

Next stop, Grandma Hayden's house in Fort Scott, KS.  My Grandma, all of my Aunts and Uncles, and most of their kids were there.  We had a great time, I am blessed to have each of them in my life.  We stayed the night at Grandma's and my dad taught Colby and I how to play Chess.  We are now Chess nerds, I win more than Colby.

Friday was on to Colby's Dad's family in Baxter Springs, and his dads house in Grove, OK.  Jake got to play with his cousins Seth, and Jared.  

Saturday we had breakfast with Colby's mom and sister.  He just knew that she had bought him  "Handy Manny, when he grabs his tools".  He had been asking for this toy at every stop, he finally got it. We also got to go see Colby's  Gogi (his grandma), we love her very much.

Devon, spent most of his time being held.  He had a good Christmas too...he just doesn't know it yet.  
We managed to get back in time to be on the road most of the snow storm on Saturday, we had the 4x4 though...we made it.  

I am so glad to have been able to have such a great Christmas...and such a great family!

My boys love each other

Jake is a big helper. Here he is helping by watching Devon, while I changed the crib sheets (right next to the chair).  Devon was just staring at him, watching his every move.  I love how much the adore each other.....I just hope that it is the same in a few years.

Armstrong Christmas

Every year the Saturday before Christmas, we celebrate with my parents.  It has just become our tradition.  Colby and I look forward to it every year.  This year, we decided to only buy for the kids, and the adults played our traditional "Chinese Christmas".  When I was younger, I looked forward to Christmas, mainly for toys/gifts, and of course my grandma's homemade chicken and noodles.  Now, I look forward to spending time with my family, watching "It's a Wonderful Life" with Colby on Christmas Eve, making my grandma's homemade noodles, and of watching my kids open their gifts.  Not one of the things that make my Christmas special involve me receiving anything tangible.  If you would have told me this 15 years ago, I would have laughed, so I guess that means I've grown up...kind of

My Mom and Dad with my sister Cherie

My niece Casey and her husband David

Me, my sister Cherie, and my brother Garen

Armstrong grand kids : Aiden, Victoria holding Devon, Jake, Aspen, Peyton, and Carson

Literary Irony

Colby and I have been having fun looking up our family on ancestry.com (old fogey I know).  Anyway, we found a link that tells you what famous people you are related to.  Colby has cool relatives like my fave Audrey Hepburn, and JFK.  Me I am related to Emily Dickinson, Ralph Waldo Emerson, E.E. Cummings. F.Scott Fitzgerald, Robert Frost and many more.  Colby's response to this... "wow babe, all those poets and authors and you cant even spell".

 

Sad thing is, he is right. I have to spell check everything...  I guess somethings aren't hereditary : )

Bargaining for some quiet

Last night I either became the funnest mom, or the craziest one.   I had to run into the Legends to get some gifts for Christmas. I knew exactly what I wanted, so I had Victoria stay in the Jeep with the boys.  It was too cold to get them out and parade around an outdoor mall.  At least too cold for Devon.  While I was gone, Jake continually bugged Victoria to go out and play in the snow.  Of course she denied him this.  When I came back, he started bugging me.  The conversation then turned to this :

Jake...  "Ok, I need to go potty, I can go potty outside"

Me..."no, we are in public, you can wait until we get home, you just went potty at Cori's house"

Jake..."Yeah...I need ta go potty outside"

Me..."we need to go home to see daddy"

Jake..." No, I need a go potty outside"

Me... "Jake, we are on the highway in the dark, I am not pulling over to let you go potty"

Jake..." Ok, I'll go potty outside when we get home"

Me..."Ok, you can go potty outside when we get home, we'll even write your name in the snow"

Jake..."Ok, yeah, I will write my name in the snow"

Whew...silence at last.  I knew that I would have to deal with this again later, but for now....Peace.  

As soon as we got home it was time to pay the piper.  Jake and I went outside and he peed in the snow.  He was so proud of himself, and I have a good story to tell future girlfriends : )

Christmas Pics

Here are some pics of my kids in front of the Christmas tree...cheesy I know.  However, Christmas morning is too busy to get anyone to stop for a posed pic.  Besides I needed them for a Christmas gift.  If Jake isn't as smiley as normal, it is because we had to bribe him to put down his blanket for a few minutes to take these pictures.  I don't think his whole heart was in it.

Devon at 8 weeks old

Jake 3 and Devon

Victoria 13, Jake, and Devon

Mercy and Forgiveness

Mercy:   

compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish.

Forgive: 

Stop feeling angry or resentful toward someone for an offense, flaw, or mistake

Many of you know that Colby and I have been through a lot this year.  My daughter choose to move to her dads in April, under VERY difficult circumstances.  This was extremely hard on us both.  We struggled with our feelings for her and even swore that she would never return to our home to live again.  After Devon was born, we slowly started being around her again.  She was slowly proving to us that she was changing.  This week we had to move things up at light speed.  It seems that old habits die hard for my ex-husband.  Colby and I know without doubt that what she has told us this time is true.  It seems that if it weren't for what I went through in the past, she would not be believable.  Colby and I know in our hearts that we can't let her go back to living like that.  Even though she has brought us much heartbreak and misery, we have been given the courage to grant her both Grace and Forgiveness.  I find myself at a bittersweet crossroads.  I love my husband and never want to put our family at harm.  However, I am happy that what appears to the daughter that I used to know is back.  I know that only time will show us if she has shed the person that inhabited my house for several months last year.  Some of you may find yourself wondering how we could make such a choice.  The answer is easy.  God showed us mercy and forgiveness, because he loves us like a father. He didn't make us prove ourselves first and act later, he did what he needed to do.  After all this is the time of year we are celebrating Gods choice to send his only son, in order for us to be free of the life we were leading. What better example is there to follow?

King Size

Ok, this is a little late I know.  Colby, the boys and I went out of town for Thanksgiving last week(Told you this was old).  It was great to get to see our families, but very exhausting.  We stayed at my Grandmother's house on Thanksgiving night.  She has two full size beds in her upstairs room, it is more of a loft actually.  Colby and I slept in one and my dad(brave sole) and Jake slept in the other.  After sleeping there with Colby, I have new respect for my parents and anyone else who sleeps in a full size bed.  Wow, you can't move in those beds!  To think my mom slept in a full size bed during two pregnancies...kudos to you mom.  I know there are people out there that don't have much, if any choice in what size bed they sleep in.  They are lucky to have a bed at all.  This Thanksgiving, I am of obviously thankful for my family, I am also thankful for my KING SIZE BED.